Canberra to host ICC World T20 2020

Manuka Oval will play host to the ICC World T20 2020, when the pinnacle of T20 cricket comes to Australia for the first time ever in 2020.

Members from the ACT Government and Cricket ACT welcomed the fact that Canberra will host matches.

For the first time in history, the events will be held as stand-alone women’s and men’s events, giving the best female and male cricketers respective opportunities to capture the attention of the country and the world. Women’s matches will run from 21 February to 8 March 2020 and the men’s matches will run from 18 October to 15 November 2020.

In Canberra, Manuka Oval will host the Women’s World T20.

The world’s 10 best women’s teams and 16 best men’s team’s will come to Australia to battle it out for the ultimate prize in T20 cricket.

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the ACT Government was excited that more elite cricket content was coming to the capital.

“The ACT Government is delighted to be a host city for the WT2 Cricket 2020 tournament,” said Minister Barr

“Canberrans demonstrated their eagerness for international women’s cricket during the recent women’s Ashes series, where Manuka Oval recorded the highest match attendance for the series.

“The Government made a commitment during the 2016 election to increase our support for professional women’s sport, with our participation in this tournament joining a host of other investments the Government has made to bring world class women’s sporting events to the capital. This includes Super Netball, AFLW and regular W-League and WNBL fixtures.”

“Australia is a sporting nation, with diverse and passionate fans who love cricket. We’ve designed the ICC World T20, comprising standalone women’s and men’s events, to be more inclusive, more accessible and more connected than ever before, so that everyone can join in.

Mr Hockley added:

“Major events of this scale are all about partnerships. We look forward to working with host cities, their communities, and all partners to deliver a spectacular celebration in 2020, including welcoming thousands of international visitors to attend matches and be part of it.”

Cricket ACT CEO, Cameron French, believes the ICC World T20 2020 will help grow interest in cricket at all levels in Canberra.

“Being afforded the opportunity to host matches for an event of this calibre will not only showcase Canberra’s world class facilities to Australia and to the globe, but will importantly do so much to inspire the next generation of young girls and boys in the ACT to pick up a cricket bat or ball.

We look forward to hosting the best T20 cricketers in the world in 2020 and to delivering successful and well attended matches at Manuka Oval,” said French.

The ICC World T20 2020 takes place against the backdrop of a hugely successful ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 in Australia, which featured record crowds, broadcast audiences and visitors, and the ongoing success of the Women’s and Men’s Big Bash Leagues.